MARK HANSON CAUGHT IN HEANOR PAEDOPHILE HUNTING STING INVOLVING DERBYSHIRE SCHOOLS

In April 2019, a disturbing case emerged involving Mark Hanson, a man from Heanor with a troubling history linked to his previous employment at educational institutions across Derbyshire. Hanson, a father of five, found himself at the center of a criminal investigation after being caught in a sting operation conducted by vigilant paedophile hunters. The operation was meticulously organized, with the group posing online as a 13-year-old girl named Gracie to lure Hanson into inappropriate conversations.

According to court proceedings at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court, the group initiated contact with Hanson through social media platforms, creating a fake profile for the fictitious minor. The conversations quickly turned explicit, with Hanson expressing a desire to engage in sexual activities. He explicitly told the supposed 13-year-old that he wanted to “lick chocolate off her body” and requested her to send him pornographic images. The group documented these exchanges and subsequently handed over the incriminating WhatsApp messages to Derbyshire police.

In a dramatic turn, the police streamed Hanson’s arrest live on Facebook, capturing the moment he was taken into custody. The court heard that Hanson, who previously worked in grounds maintenance at schools and educational establishments, had no prior convictions but had engaged in these illicit communications between November 26 and December 27, 2017. The prosecution, led by Natalie Evans, detailed how Hanson’s messages began with innocent inquiries but quickly escalated to sexual content, including discussions about sex and the use of protection.

Hanson’s legal representatives, including Richard Jennings, emphasized that Hanson was a family man with a stable relationship spanning 23 years and that he was living with his wife and children before the incident. Jennings stated that Hanson had since relinquished his business, which involved grounds maintenance contracts at schools, and had left his family home in Heanor, now living without a fixed address. He described Hanson’s current situation as living in his car, highlighting the personal toll of his actions.

The court was informed that Hanson had made full admissions during police interviews, acknowledging that he believed he was communicating with a minor and that their conversations were sexual in nature. Despite his claims of innocence regarding any real contact or intent to meet the girl, the evidence and his admissions led to a conviction.

Hanson pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to incite a girl aged 13 into sexual activity. Magistrates responded by imposing a five-year sexual harm prevention order and registering him as a sex offender for the same duration. Additionally, Hanson received a two-year community order, which includes 150 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £85 in prosecution costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

The magistrates expressed their disapproval, stating, “We believe had you not been caught you would have carried on doing this. You must know the very unfortunate effect this has brought on your wife and the damage it has done to your children. You have let them down.” The case underscores the serious consequences of online predatory behavior and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from exploitation.